Improvement in bustles or panniers



ELIZABETH S. WELDON BUSTLE-OR PANNIER.

No. 173,702. I Patented Feb.15, 1876.

N PETERS, PHO'TO-UTHDGRAPHER, WASHINGYON. u. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ELIZABETH S. WELDON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN BUSTLES OR PANNIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,702, dated February 15, 1876; application filed June 7, 1875.

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH STowELL WELDON, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Panniers, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in ladies panniers, its object being to so construct the springs which are employed to distend the same that they will always tend .to curve the skirt of the pannier outward from the top to the bottom, and prevent the same, when subjected to pressure, from being thrown in contact with the body of the wearer, for the purpose of preserving the shape of the pannier.

My invention consists in an improved compound stay for distending the skirt or halfskirt of the pannier, consisting of two flat or other suitably-shaped springs, of different lengths, firmly united at their ends, in any suitable manner, the difference in the lengths of the two tending to give the lower spring the proper curve to keep the compound stay properly distended, in such manner that the said compound spring will give the desired curvature to the skirt of the pannier, a series of such stays being employed at proper distances apart throughout the entire length of the skirt.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the pannier complete, and Fig.2 modifications of the compound spring.

Theletter A represents the com pound spring, consisting of two fiat or other suitably-shaped springs, a a, of difl'erent lengths, united securely at their ends, in any convenient manner. In the present instance the ends of the springs are represented as confined between folded pieces of fabric B B, clamped together of said pannier.

applied, in an outward' direction, so as to preserve the shape of said skirt, and keep it outwardly curved toward the bottom, a series of such compound springs being employed at suitable intervals throughout the entire length of the skirt, varying in number to the length The length of the compound stays or springs will, of course, be propor tioned to the various positions at which they are placed, being smallest at the top, and gradually increasing in length to the bottom. In order to further provide for the proper distension of the compound spring or stay, a strap or connecting-piece, B, extending from one to the other of the springs a a, may be employed; but this is not essential.

The pannier is usually constructed in the form of a half-skirt, as represented in the drawings, which is provided with pockets at opposite sides, for the reception of the ends of the compound springs, said springs being capable of insertion and removal at pleasure, for the purpose of allowing the skirt to be washed when desired.

The letters 1) D represent two springs, secured to the belt of the pannier, and extending downward at the rear to the second compound spring from the top of the skirt, which serve to keep the upper part of the pannier just to the rear of the hips properly distended, so as to preserve the shape of the rear upper part of the pannier, and prevent the same from being crushed during the sitting of the wearer.-

The pannier, as thus constructed with the compound springs or stays, will always be distended outwardly from the top to the bottom, owing to the increased curvature of the two springs of which the stays are composed, which causes the lower spring of each of the series of compound springs to curve properly in an outward direction, while the elasticity of the two springs a a will cause the compound spring to assume its proper form after compression, in order to preserve the shape of the pannier after any disarrangement which may occur in crowded assemblages, or from the sitting or reclinin g of the wearer.

Having thus described myinvention, what I In testimony that I claim the foregoing I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, have hereunte set my hand in the presence of is-- the subscribing Witnesses.

As a new article of manufacture, a pannier having combined with its skirt the compound ELIZABETH STOVVELL WELDON. spring constructed of two flat springs of unequal lengths, confined together at their ends, Witnesses: adapted to the skirt, its-herein shown and de- W. H. MELIGK, scribed. W. READ. 

